Releasable safety device for a ski boot

ABSTRACT

The device comprises: first holding means for holding one of the extremities of the boot, including first retaining means consisting of an abutment mounted to the ski and having a first ramp, the retaining means further including a second ramp cooperating with the second ramp; second holding means for holding the other extremity of the boot and including second retaining means cooperating with the other boot extremity; resilient means received in at least one of the holding means, the first and second ramps being slidable relative to one another, when subjected to a vertical force, along an axis corresponding substantially to the axis of the ski and against the opposing action of the resilient means; release means interposed between the resilient means and one of the holding means for disengaging the resilient means from the holding means and from the boot extremity associated with the said one holding means when the first and second ramps have slid one relative to the other a distance less than the maximum travel of these ramps.

United States Patent [191 Salomon 1 Sept. 30, 1975 [75] Inventor:Georges Pierre Joseph Salomon,

Annecy, France [73] Assignee: S.A. Etablissements Francois Salomon &Fils, Annecy, France 22 Filed: Feb. 22, 1974 21 Appl. No.: 444,960

2,854,242 9/1958 Pratt 280/11.35 T

3,095,210 6/1963 l-lallam 1 280/11.35 T

3,410,568 11/1968 Wiley 1 280/1 1.35 K 3,584,891 6/1971 Khazzam...280/1l.35 T

3,638.959 2/1972 Reuge 1 280/1 1.35 T 3,716,248 2/1973 Wiley 280/11.35 T

3,730,543 5/1973 Edmund 2130/1135 T Primary E.\'aminerRobert R. Song 5 7ABSTRACT The device comprises: first holding means for holding one ofthe extremities of the boot, including first retaining means consistingof an abutment mounted to the ski and having a first ramp, the retainingmeans further including a second ramp cooperating with the second ramp;second holding means for holding the other extremity of the boot andincluding second retaining means cooperating with the other bootextremity; resilient means received in at least one of the holdingmeans, the first and second ramps being slidable relative to oneanother, when subjected to a vertical force, along an axis correspondingsubstantially to the axis of the ski and against the opposing action ofthe resilient means; release means interposed between the resilientmeans and one of the holding means for disengaging the resilient meansfrom the holding means and from the boot extremity associated with thesaid one holding means when the first and second ramps have slid onerelative to the other a distance less than the maximum travel of theseramps.

4 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures I 1 l l US. Patent Sept. 30,1975

i US. Patent Sept. 30,1975 Sheet2of3 3,909,026

USQ Patfim Sept. 30,1975 Sheet 3 of3 3,909,026

RELEASABLE SAFETY DEVICE FOR A SKI BOOT The invention relates to areleasable safety fixing device for a ski boot. It is more particularlyconcerned with fixing devices comprising a retention member, especiallya retaining clamp co-operating with a sloping face which is temporarilyor permanently fixed on the boot.

For this kind of fixing, the vertical safety results from a gradualsliding movement of the sloping faces respectively fixed on the boot andon the retaining clamp, one with respect to the other.

This type of fixing offers various advantages; in particular the lockingdevice, pushing back the sole of the boot (or a sloping face added onthis latter) so as to lock it with respect to a retaining clamp mountedon the ski, may be designed in such manner as to ensure the release ofthe fixing device in all directions, both laterally and vertically.

On the other hand, this type of fixing has disadvantages; in fact, thevertical release takes place when the extremity of the slopingface (therelease nose) escapes from the retaining clamp. Now, the verticalrelease forces are generally very high and this results in a prematurewear of the sloping faces and precisely of the release nose which iscontact with the retaining clamp over a very small surface. This wearalso results from the fact of the position of the sloping faces underthe boot when the skier walks accidentally on rocky ground. Whatever theorigin of this wear may be, it has the effect of modifying the value ofthe release force over a period of time. I

In addition, this type of fixing device has another drawback. In fact,the characteristics of the sloping faces or ramps, and especially theirinclination with respect to the horizontal plane is imposed by the ratioof the lateral and vertical release forces which, for the safety andcomfort of the skier, must be comprised within well-defined limits. Forthis reason, the elastic travel of the boot is also fixed and it is notpossible to modify it by acting on the inclination of the sloping facesor ramps.

The present invention provides a solution for these problems. Accordingto the invention, the releasable safety fixing device for a ski bootcomprises:

a first holding means for one of the extremities of the boot thatincludes a retaining means constituted by a first ramp which is integralwith an abutment mounted to the ski, and a second ramp which is integralwith the said extremity of the boot which cooperates with the firstramp; a second holding means for the other extremity of the boot whichincludes another retaining means cooperating with the said otherextremity of the boot; resilient means situated in one of the twoholding means, the first ramp and the second ramp sliding one relativeto the other under the action of a vertical force, along thelongitudinal axis of the ski against the opposing action of theresilient means.

The fixing device of the present invention further in cludes anessential characteristic: release means interposed between the resilientmeans in one of the retaining means to disengage the resilient meansfrom the retaining means and its associated boot extremity when thefirst and second ramps slide longitudinally one relative to the other adistance less than the maximal travel on these ramps.

By virtue of this combination of means co-operating with each other, theboot frees itself from the fixing device while the end zones of thefirst and second ramps are still in contact with one or the other over asurface which is much larger than it would be if the release wereeffected, as it is in the known art, on the ends of the said ramps.

The result of this is that the disadvantages previously referred to withrespect to known fixing devices are eliminated. In fact, wear of therelease noses located at the end of the ramp on the boot is nil orsubstantially nil, since this ramp completes its disengagement from theretaining means, without being in contact with the extremity of thislatter, with the force necessary for its release.

Finally, it is clear that the fixing device according to the invention,has the advantages previously referred to, especially the retainingmeans which holds the end of the boot opposite to the system of rampscooperating with the retaining means may be designed in such manner asto ensure the release of the fixing device in all directions, bothlaterally and vertically.

According to a subsidiary characteristic feature corresponding to analternative form of embodiment of the invention, one of the holdingmeans includes a retaining means, a resilient means and a release meansaccording to the invention interposed between the resilient means andthe said retaining means.

Preferably, in the case of this alternative form of embodiment of theinvention, the retaining means is composed of two levers which arearticulated with respect to the second holding means. Each leverincludes at one end a ramp cooperating with the corresponding end of theboot and, at the other end, projections. Furthermore, the release meansinterposed between the resilient means and the holding means is composedof an arm articulated at the end of a rod actuated by the resilientmeans and cooperating in a releasable manner with these projections ofthe two levers.

However, as described hereinafter, there are other ways of constructingand locating these release means.

A description will now be given, which is in no way restrictive, ofvarious examples of embodiment, in conjunction with the drawing,wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first variant, showing a boot securedto the ski by means of a front stop comprising a release means accordingto the invention, and of a rear stop consisting of a system of twosloping ramps integral with the boot and the ski respectively;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a detail of the front stop in theexample of embodiment illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of the principle of the front stopillustrated in FIG. 2, with the stop in neutral and the release meansengaged;

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the principle of the front stopillustrated in FIG. 3, with the stop in the lateral-release position andthe release means in the partially disengaged position;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the principle of the front stopillustrated in FIG. 4, with the stop in the vertical-release positionand the release means in the fully disengaged position;

FIG. 6a is a diagrammatic illustration of the principle of the variantillustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6b is a diagrammatic illustration of the principle of anothervariant, the difference being the position of the release means inrelation to the boot.

A description will now be given in FIG. 1 which is a perspective view ofa first variant showing a boot secured to the ski by means of a frontstop comprising a release means according to the invention, and of arear stop consisting of a system of two sloping ramps integral with theboot and the ski respectively.

Boot 7 is secured to ski 8 by two retaining elements. The one located atthe front, and secured to the ski more particularly by screws 33,comprises jaws or ramps 21' cooperating with ramps 6 located at thefront end of the boot (this front stop will be described more fully inconnection with FIG. 2). The other, located at the rear, consists of afirst ramp integral with a catch mounted on the ski, and ofa second ramp3 integral with the rear end of the sole of of the boot. Ramps 3 and 4are sloping, ramp 3 being in the form of a frustum of a prism. Ramps 3and 4 may be of any suitable shape, more particularly that found onplate bindings marketed under the GERTSCl-I trade mark, or else, andpreferably, that described in US. patent application Ser. No. 413,985filed on Nov. 8, I973.

The ramps 3 and 4 serve to move the boot forward against the action ofthe resilient element contained in the front stop, when the boot issubjected to a vertical load.

In the variant shown in FIG. 1, the retaining elements (jaws 21 andfirst ramp 4) cooperate directly with the ends of the sole of the boot;it is also possible, without departing from the scope of this presentinvention, to fit a plate temporarily under the skiers boot and to equipthis plate with second ramps 3 and ramps 6 cooperating with first ramps4 of the rear retaining element and jaws 21 of the front stop.

A description will now be given of FIG. 2 which is a perspective view ofa detail of the front stop in the variant illustrated in FIG. 1.

The front end of the boot (not shown in FIG. 2) cooperates with tworamps orjaws 21 21" located at the ends of two levers 22, 22" crankedsubstantially at right angles and pivoting about two vertical axes 23,23 which are stationary in relation to the body of the front stop.Projections 25', 25 are integral with the outer ends of each of crankedlever 22', 22", the projections co-operating with ends 25, 26 of a leveror arm 27 which pivots centrally about a vertical axis 28. This axis isintegral with the end of a rod 29 passing through a resilient element 30consisting of a coil spring.

One end of this resilient element bears against body 32 of the retainingelement which is integral with the ski, being attached thereto by twoscrews 33, while the other end of the resilient element bears against athreaded plug 31 screwed to the free end of rod 29; the tension of thespring, and the force applied thereby, are adjusted by screwing up orunscrewing threaded plug 31.

A description will now be given of the method of operation of thebinding according to the invention, with reference to FIGS. 3, 4 andwhich illustrate diagrammatically the front stop shown in FIG. 2.

In FIG. 3 the front stop is shown at rest, with boot in position in thebinding. The figure shows levers 22 equipped with ramps orjaws 21 andprojections pivoting about axes 23 which are fixed in relation to body32 of the front-stop retaining element; also shown is arm 27, ends 26thereof co-operating with projections 25; arm 27 pivots centrally aboutan axis 28 mounted at the end of a rod actuated by resilient element 30.5 The release means according to the invention consists of arm 27 andprojections 25; this release means is interposed between resilientelement and the re taining element consisting of ramps or jaws 21; inthe position shown in FIG. 3, it transmits to ramps or jaws 21 the forceexerted by resilient element 30.

Also shown in FIG. 3 are two stops 34 which are stationary in relationto body 32 and are designed to limit the travel of levers 22 and to keepthe levers apart when there is no boot in the binding; these stops 34may be in any known form; more particularly they may be simply shouldersintegral with body 32 of the front stop.

FIG. 4 illustrates the operation of the front stop under lateralloading; the elements described in connection with FIGS. 2 and 3 will berecognized here again; indices or have been used (as in FIG. 2) for eachhalf-portion of the stop according to the invention, and for theelements of which it consists.

The force exerted by the boot is directed transversely of the ski in thedirection of arrow 40.

This force causes cranked lever 22 to pivot. Arm 27 also pivots aboutits end 26 which is stopped by projection 25, the latter beingstationary in relation to the ski because lever 22 is bearing againststop 34.

As long as end 26 of lever 27 is stopped by projection 25', resilientelement 30 holds ramp or jaw 21, and therefore boot 20, resiliently.However, when projection 25 pivots, with lever 22, through an angle suchthat it is no longer in contact with end 26' of arm 27, said end 26disengages, allowing lever 22' to pivot freely. As a result of this, therear end of the boot is released from the catch (not shown in FIG. 4),pivoting and advancing against a very small retaining force.

FIG. 5 shows how the front stop reacts to a vertical load. The elementsalready described in connection with FIGS. 2, 3 and 4 will berecognized, since they bear the same reference numerals.

When the boot is subjected to a vertical or longitudinal load, the forceexerted upon the front stop by the boot is directed along thelongitudinal axis of the ski in the direction of arrow 45. This forcecauses cranked levers 22, 22" to pivot about axes 23, 23".

As long as ends 26, 26" of arm 27 are stopped by projections 25, 25",resilient element 30 holds ramps or jaws 21, 21" resiliently and tendsto urge boot 20 into its normal position in relation to the ski.However, when projections 25', 25", which are integral with levers 22,22", pivot through an angle such that they are no longer in contact withends 26', 26" of arm 27, levers 22', 22" may rock freely. As a result ofthis, the rear end of the boot is released from the catch and advancesfreely.

It will be noted that as soon as ends 26, 26" of arm 27 cease tocooperate with projections 25, 25" when the release means consisting ofarm 27 and projections 25, 25" has come into action ramps 3, 4 (FIG. 1)are still in contact. This result is obtained by adjusting the releasetravel of the release means (projections 25, 25" and arm 27) in amariner such that it is less than the longitudinal travel imposed byramps 3, 4. As a result of this, ramp 3, located at the rear end of theboot, finally disengages itself without friction from ramp 4 which isintegral with fixed catch 9.

It is desirable in practice that the rotation of levers 22', 22", afterprojections 25', 25" have escaped from ends 25, 26", shall not beabsolutely free, but shall take place against a load which is very muchless than the load prior to the release. This is achieved by means ofprofiles 41, the radii of curvature of which increase slightly insteadof being centred on axes 23. Thus after the release produced between 25,25" and 26, 26", levers 22, 22" automatically return to the position ofrest and are ready for the skis to be put on.

According to the invention, therefore, the release means interposedbetween the resilient element and the retaining element (the jaws)disconnects the resilient element from the retaining element and fromthe boot with which the retaining element co-operates when first andsecond ramps 4 and 3 have slid longitudinally, in relation to eachother, over a distance of less than the maximal travel of the ramps.

It will be noted that the ramps and/or release means are designed in amanner such that the vertical-release load, in the event of forwardfalls, has the desired ratio, for example three times the load forlateral release.

A detailed description has been given, in conjunction with FIGS. 2, 3, 4and 5, ofa variant of a release means according to the invention and themethod of operation thereof. Without departing from the scope of thispresent invention, this release means could be of any other type, andcould be arranged in any other manner, than the variant described.

More particularly, it is not absolutely necessary for the release meansto be a part of the front stop. It could also be incorporated into therear stop.

FIG. 6a is a diagrammatic illustration of the principle of the variantshown in FIGS. 1 and 2, while FIG. 6b is a diagrammatic illustration ofthe principle of another variant differing from the former in that therelease means is arranged in the rear stop.

The essential elements, namely the first and second ramps, the resilientelement, and the release means, have been symbolized and are representedas follows:

resilient element 1 is represented by a zig-zag indicating a spring;

release means 2 is represented by a rectangle containing a cross;

first and second ramps 4 and 3 are represented by sloping lines;

ramps or jaws 5, 6 located at the front of the boot, are

also represented by sloping lines;

the parts which are fixed in relation to the ski, one at the rear 9 andone at the front 10, are presented by hatched rectangles with verticallines indicating the screw or screws by means of which the parts aresecured to the ski.

These diagrams do not claim to provide a complete description of thedifferent variants according to the invention. The purpose thereof issolely to demonstrate that it is immaterial whether the release means islocated in front or behind the binding.

It should be borne in mind that the invention relates essentially to arelease means interposed between a resilient element and an elementretaining one end of the boot, the release means disconnecting theresilient element from the said retaining element when the first andsecond ramps have slid, in relation to each other, over a distance ofless than the maximal travel of the ramps.

The structure of this release means, and the location thereof in thebinding, are of little importance, as long as proper release is assured.

In other words, the invention may be considered as the combination of afirst binding releasable by the advance of the boot and of a secondbinding which brings about the advance by means of a system of slopingramps on the ski, when the boot is subjected to a -vertical load (aforward or a backward fall, depending on the location of the first andsecond ramps), the release travel of the first binding being less thanthe longitudinal travel imposed by the ramp system.

What I claim is:

1. A releasable safety fixing device for a ski boot comprising:

first holding means for holding one of the extremities of said boot,said first holding means including:

first retaining means consisting of an abutment mounted to a ski, saidfirst abutment having a first ramp;

a second ramp mounted to said boot extremity and co-operating with saidfirst ramp;

second holding means for holding the other extremity of said bootincluding second retaining means cooperating with said other bootextremity;

resilient means received in at least one of said holding means; saidfirst and second ramps being slidable relative to one another, whensubjected to a vertical force, along an axis corresponding substantiallyto the axis of said ski and against the opposing action of saidresilient means;

release means interposed between said resilient means and one of saidholding means for disengaging said resilient means from said one holdingmeans and from said boot extremity associated with said one holdingmeans when said first and second ramps have slid one relative to theother a distance less than the maximum travel of said ramps.

2. A release safety fixing device for a ski boot comprising:

first holding means for holding one of the extremities of said boot,said holding means including an abutment mounted to a ski and providedwith a first inclined ramp; said first inclined ramp co-operating with asecond inclined ramp mounted to said boot extremity;

second holding means for holding the other extremity of said boot, saidsecond holding means including retaining means co-operating with saidother boot extremity,

resilient means producing an opposing action against which said firstand second ramps slide one relative to the other along an axiscorresponding substantially to the axis of said ski when subjected to avertical force, and

release means located between said resilient means and said retainingmeans for disengaging said resilient means from said retaining means andfrom the boot extremity associated with said retaining means when saidsecond ramp has slid with respect to said first ramp a distance lessthan the maximum travel of said ramps.

3. A device as defined in claim 2, wherein said retaining means consistof two levers articulated relative to said second holding means, eachlever including second holding means and which is perpendicular to theplane of the ski;

said arm is rotatably movable, at an intermediate point thereof, aboutan axis situated at said one end of said rod;

said arm is further pivotable about one of its extremities restingagainst said projections when said boot is laterally urged.

1. A releasable safety fixing device for a ski boot comprising: firstholding means for holding one of the extremities of said boot, saidfirst holding means including: first retaining means consisting of anabutment mounted to a ski, said first abutment having a first ramp; asecond ramp mounted to said boot extremity and co-operating with saidfirst ramp; second holding means for holding the other extremity of saidboot including second retaining means co-operating with said other bootextremity; resilient means received in at least one of said holdingmeans; said first and second ramps being slidable relative to oneanother, when subjected to a vertical force, along an axis correspondingsubstantially to the axis of said ski and against the opposing action ofsaid resilient means; release means interposed between said resilientmeans and one of said holding means for disengaging said resilient meansfrom said one holding means and from said boot extremity associated withsaid one holding means when said first and second ramps have slid onerelative to the other a distance less than the maximum travel of saidramps.
 2. A release safety fixing device for a ski boot comprising:first holding means for holding one of the extremities of said boot,said holding means including an abutment mounted to a ski and providedwith a first inclined ramp; said first inclined ramp co-operating with asecond inclined ramp mounted to said boot extremity; second holdingmeans for holding the other extremity of said boot, said second holdingmeans including retaining means co-operating with said other bootextremity, resilient means producing an opposing action against whichsaid first and second ramps slide one relative to the other along anaxis corresponding substantially to the axis of said ski when subjectedto a vertical force, and release means located between said resilientmeans and said retaining means for disengaging said resilient means fromsaid retaining means and from the boot extremity associated with saidretaining means when said second ramp has slid with respect to saidfirst ramp a distance less than the maximum travel of said ramps.
 3. Adevice as defined in claim 2, wherein said retaining means consist oftwo levers articulated relative to said second holding means, each leverincluding at one end, a ramp cooperating with an associated bootextremity, at the other end, projections; said release means isconstituted by an arm articulated at one end of a rod actuated by saidresilient means, said arm co-operating in a releasable manner with saidprojections of said levers.
 4. A device as defined in claim 3, whereineach of said levers is elbowed and rotatably movable about an axis whichis fixed with respect to said second holding means and which isperpendicular to the plane of the ski; said arm is rotatably movable, atan intermediate point thereof, about an axis situated at said one end ofsaid rod; said arm is further pivotable about one of its extremitiesresting against said projections when said boot is laterally urged.